Pre-assessment information about Remote Invigilation
Remote assessments function somewhat differently from standard ones, so you must read and understand all the information on this page, as well as the user guides and videos below, before deciding to proceed.
The guides contain comprehensive details on how remote assessments operate, the limitations and advantages, how to install the necessary software, how to prepare, and what you need to do.
The Remote Invigilation Pre-Assessment Information Guide (PDF) includes all the information required before scheduling an assessment.
Cost
Sepera College charges an additional £50.00 for remote assessments to cover support and delivery requirements.
Safeguarding
To comply with safeguarding responsibilities:
- Students under the age of 14 are not permitted to sit assessments remotely.
invigilated assessments under any circumstances. - Students aged 14 or 15 years old must have parent/guardian
consent before sitting a remotely invigilated assessment.
A consent form (PDF) must be completed and signed, then submitted by the assessment centre scheduling the assessment to assessment.operations@aat.org.uk before any remote invigilation assessment.
If you’re 14 or 15 years old this consent form (PDF) must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian. The assessment centre scheduling the assessment must then send it to assessment.operations@aat.org.uk.Â
Once we receive the form, we will remove the restriction to allow you to be scheduled. You can also use this form to rescind any previously given permission.
Reasonable adjustments
We cannot support all reasonable adjustments in remotely invigilated assessments. Please read the pre-assessment information guide (PDF)Â to understand the limitations of these.
If required, please also read AAT’s Guidance on the application of reasonable adjustments and special consideration in AAT assessments (PDF).
Live assessment support
As the assessment will not take place in an assessment centre, there will be no invigilation support should you encounter any issues.
AAT will host a number of technical support clinics, but you’ll need to resolve any issues that occur while the assessment is in progress using the Remote invigilation live assessment troubleshooting guide (PDF).
You must sit and submit all RI assessments before midnight UK time (GMT/UTD).
Please also familiarise yourself with the rules to avoid malpractice.
Privacy policy
We will record you and your assessment on screen for invigilation purposes, and we will keep the videos for up to 90 days. We will also use the recordings to identify, investigate, and provide evidence of any irregularities that occur during the assessment. For further information about the data we collect, why it is collected, and how it is used, please refer to AAT’s privacy policy and fair processing notice.Â
Minimum specifications and installing the secure browser
To sit your assessment, you’ll need to install the PSI secure browser. Below are the minimum and supporting specifications your computer will need.
System | Requirements |
Operating system | Supported:Â Windows 10 and 11, Windows 10 and 11 Enterprise, MAC OS 10.14 and Higher Not supported:Â Chromebooks, iOS, Android, Tablets and Linux. |
Screen resolution | 1368 x 769 or higher |
Bandwidth | Minimum:Â 1 Mbit/s per device |
Supported browsers | PSI Secure browser & Chrome (latest version) |
Memory | Minimum:Â 8GB |
Free hard disk space | At least 2GB of available hard disk space throughout the duration of the assessment |
CPU | Minimum: Intel i3 i5, i7, or i9/ SSE4 compatible processor Minimum: 1.30 GHz – minimum 2 core / 4 thread |
Webcam | Working |
Microphone | Working |
You must ensure all of the above requirements are met. You can also use this system requirements checker to check your camera, microphone and internet meet the requirements.
The Remote Invigilation Installation Minimum Specifications Guide (PDF) contains full details on how to install the software, the supporting specifications, and how to check that other requirements are met.
If you have software running on your device that prevents you from completing the security requirements check, and you are not able to close the flagged software to progress, you will not be able to sit an assessment. This will most likely occur on work computers that have enhanced restrictions, such as work devices.
Sitting the practice assessment
The remote invigilation versions of assessments contain some additional features, like a calculator tool and a whiteboard for rough workings. We have added these within tasks where required because you are not permitted to use physical calculators and blank paper for these assessments. Additionally, any remote assessment with a duration over 90 minutes will have a break section halfway through. (This doesn’t apply to assessments where extra time reasonable adjustments take the duration over 90 minutes.)
AAT strongly advises you to sit a scheduled RI practice assessment (which will launch within the secure browser) at least two days before sitting a live one – you’ll need to ask the above assessment centres to schedule this for you. This ensures that all required software is downloaded, your PC meets the minimum specifications, you can access an assessment in the secure browser without issues, and you can familiarize yourself with the pre-assessment checks, whiteboard, and break section (if applicable).
A remote invigilation practice assessment is available in the AAT Lifelong Learning Portal. However, it does not contain the pre-assessment checks or whiteboard.
Scheduling, accessing and sitting the assessment
Once you’ve read and fully understood all the information on this page, installed the required software and accessed a practice assessment in the secure browser, speak to your assessment centre about scheduling you for a remotely invigilated assessment.
Please ensure you raise any reasonable adjustment requirements and, where applicable, submit a completed and signed consent form to them if you’re 14 or 15 years old.
Once scheduled, you’ll receive an email from AAT confirming the assessment and date.
If this is your first assessment on ATLAS Cloud, you’ll also receive an email from noreply@psionline.com with information on how to set up your account. ATLAS Cloud is the website you’ll need to access to launch your assessment.
On The day
On your scheduled date, you can access the assessment at any time; however, you must submit it by midnight UK time (UTD).
The guide How to access and sit remotely invigilated assessments (PDF) will help you through the stages of accessing your assessment, navigating through it, using the features specific to these assessments, and submitting it.
Launch assessments only from the ATLAS Cloud catalogue page. Do not load the secure browser software directly.
Troubleshooting
To maintain the validity and security of the assessment, you cannot bring blank paper into the assessment, and you will not be able to access any third-party software.
There are also a number of other prohibited items, listed in the Remote invigilation pre-assessment information guide (PDF).
You must open the Remote invigilation live assessment troubleshooting guide (PDF) from the T&Cs page in the secure browser once you’ve launched your assessment. This will then remain accessible to you throughout the duration of the assessment, should you require it.
If the secure browser closes during the assessment, you must relaunch it immediately by logging into your ATLAS Cloud account and clicking on the assessment from your Catalogue page. You will then be required to redo the pre-assessment checks.
As there is no live invigilation during the assessment, AAT will be hosting regular technical clinics for centres and students should they encounter any pre-assessment issues.
However, to mitigate any potential live issues, ensure that your PC meets the minimum and supporting specifications, download the required software in advance, and sit a scheduled practice assessment in the secure browser to confirm that you can access assessments.
During the assessment, our software providers will offer chat support for software issues only, not for assessment-related queries.
Post-assessment
Submitting an incident report
You must record any incident that delays, disrupts, or disadvantages you during your assessment, such as technical problems or fire alarms, in an incident report and email it to cba@aat.org.uk by the end of the next working day after the assessment.
For remotely invigilated assessments, you (the student) will need to complete and submit an incident report to AAT if an issue occurs. You must include as much information as possible in the incident report about the issue that occurred, when it occurred, its impact, and the steps taken to rectify it.
We will only accept incident reports if the student completes and submits them on time. No one else should complete an incident report on your behalf.
If our investigation confirms that you were unfairly disadvantaged through no fault of your own, we will consider this when reviewing your performance in the assessment.
Any action taken will be in line with our Guidance on the application of reasonable adjustments and special consideration in AAT assessments (PDF).
Download an incident report form for remotely invigilated assessments (PDF).
Enquiries and appeals
If you are dissatisfied with the result of your remotely invigilated assessment, visit the Enquiries and Appeals page to see how we can support you.
Results
We will release the results for remotely invigilated computer-marked assessments to your MyAAT dashboard within 10 business days.
If we raise a flag against your invigilation video, we may need to hold your result for longer, pending the conclusion of any required investigation.
We will release the results for remotely invigilated externally-marked assessments within six weeks. The result release calendar is available on the Get your results page.
When you are unable to submit your assessment, a process will run automatically to do this each day.
If your invigilation video is incomplete and does not cover the full duration of your assessment, AAT will investigate and may void the result. If this occurs due to a technical issue outside of your control, we will issue a refund to the scheduling assessment centre equivalent to AAT’s assessment fee.
Support
Join our weekly remote invigilation technical clinics on MS Teams using this link.
The technical clinic takes place every Thursday and at the same times each week:
- 12.30 – 13.00 (UK time) for training providers
- 13.00 – 13.30 (UK time) for students
We have also set up a dedicated email address for RI queries at remote@aat.org.uk.
Key Steps for Passing Your Remotely Invigilated Assessment
-
Understand the Information:
Carefully read all the content on this page, including videos and user guides. -
Check Computer Compatibility:
Make sure your computer meets the requirements. Download and install the PSI secure browser, then take a practice assessment using it (follow the guidance provided). -
Schedule Assessments:
Contact one of the assessment centers mentioned to schedule both practice and live assessments. Start with the practice assessment to verify software installation and access. -
Launch Your Assessment:
When launching your assessment from ATLAS Cloud, keep the troubleshooting guide from the T&Cs page accessible throughout. -
Pre-Assessment Checks:
Complete system and security checks, and take photos of yourself, your ID, and a room scan. Once done, you can access your assessment. -
Submit and Close:
After completing your assessment, submit it and close the secure browser.